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Thursday, 28 October 2010

Very briefly - I am on a Very Big Coding High, as I have just spent the week finishing a website update for my friend Rosie. Her cakes are truly, truly wonderful and Coffeeslut and I have spent quite a while trying to create a website that does her justice.

Thursday, 21 October 2010

How do you know you trust someone? How do you know you *don't* trust someone? When you stop trusting someone you previously relied on completely, can you ever get back to where you were before? If it's a given that you want to, of course.

Me: Leo, have you done a wee?Leo: Yes, Mummy, I have. I did a wee in the cup and now we are having nice cup of tea.Me: Yipes!Leo: [tips dolls tea cup of wee in to large wet patch on bedroom carpet]Nenna: [grabs Leo's willy]Leo & Nenna: [fall over in to patch of wee, giggling]Me: Sigh. [Exit to get floor cloth and run bath]

Thursday, 14 October 2010

As some of you will remember, a few years ago I put together a list of rape survivor resources and experiences, which I now maintain elsewhere than ducking for apples - here, in fact.

I have just updated the links and checked what is working and what is not. If you have a story to contribute or you know of a resource that I have overlooked, please could you contact me? Many survivors posted their own experiences of rape on this ducking for apples post and I am in the process of transferring them to the new site; but they finished page is not up yet.

Anything anyone can add that might help other people would be most welcome, as would publicising this.

Monday, 11 October 2010

I have just taken our landlord's dogs out for a final run before putting them to bed with their biscuits.

They sky is incredible - so clear. We are right on the edge of the Quantock Hills, so there isn't much light pollution at all. Standing looking up towards the hill, with the tops of the trees silhouetted against the skyline, I really felt as if I was standing under the Wheel Of The Year. It is quite windy tonight, although it's not too cold. The fallen leaves were blowing about on the ground and the branches of the trees were whipping in the wind.

I had this amazing moment where I felt as if I was the tiny, tiny pivot around which the stars were turning.

I couldn't hear the red deer tonight - but for the last week, there has been a very impressive stag who has brought his harem down out of the woods and in to the parkland. They have been there as I have driven home up the drive past the 'big house' every evening. And then later, as it has got dark, he has been bellowing to all and sundry that this is his territory and these are his wives. It's a very eerie noise, very base and very primal.

Autumn is most definitely here, although the days this week have been a real Indian Summer. The nights are cold, the fire is lit.

Mentally and physically, I am battening down the hatches as winter approaches. Ordering logs, making jam and wine, storing the fragrances and fruits of the season against the coming cold to tide us over until spring starts again.

Thursday, 7 October 2010

I am very excited; I thought it was sure to be a drake, as I had only the one hatch and when that happens, the Law Of Sod dictates that it is, invariably, a single male. So, I spent £20 on an Alleged Duck from someone up the road.

At twelve weeks old, the Alleged Duck's girl-feathers all fell out and it became obvious that it was a boy. The person up the road was very embarrassed - it was the first time they had hatched this particular breed - Saxonys - too. And I was even more certain that my own duck would be a boy.

(Am I getting the distinction clear here between ducks and Ducks? Do stop me if you want me to clarify.)

So. We have waited. And over the last three days, all my duck's feather's have been replaced with it's proper grown-up feathers. And it is a Duck!

I have a PAIR of ducks. I am so un-utterably happy it's ridiculous. Since I was seventeen one of my ambitions on my laminated list has been to Keep Ducks. And so, for my fortieth birthday in May, I bought some duck eggs to hatch. And now, I have a matched pair of ducks.

I get an inordinate amount of pleasure from simply sitting watching them poddle around doing their Duck Thing. Dibbling. Dabbling. Puddling. You know. Lots of 'ing words.

On that note, I'm going to bed. Nenna's suffering from the change in routine of B being away and sleep is a bit random. Hers and mine. Leo, it appears, could sleep through a banshee - and often does.

The quince and apple jelly is FANTASTIC. It's a beautiful clear deep pink colour and tastes of autumn. I feel very pleased with myself. My next project is rosehips, I think for jelly. Although if I get a lot, I guess that wine would be a possibility. I have also been promised some sloes from a friend - I am thinking a trip to Bookers for more gin might be in order!

One of my ongoing projects is to get my phone to talk to Ubuntu on my computer so I can upload photos more easily - it's a bit of a palaver at the moment.

B is away for a week or so, so I am in a 'routine routine routine' place in order to keep myself sane.

For today, that is all. It's nice being back blogging regularly - it feels much more my 'own space' than facebook or twitter.

Sunday, 3 October 2010

Me: These quinces.Earthenwitch: Yes?Me: Do I squash them?Earthenwitch: You've gone the steaming route?Me: Yes.Earthenwitch: No, then. Just leave them for a while to drip.Me: A while could be overnight?Earthenwitch: Yes. And then they're more or less done.Me:Okay, thank you.Earthenwitch: Bye!Me: Bye!

Saturday, 2 October 2010

I have spent the two days head-down-arse-up working on updating my poultry website. I have loaded it up this morning and am now planning to go away and not look at it for a few days then come back to it with a fresh eye later in the week. If anyone is feeling particularly critical, obviously in a supportive and non-judgemental fashion, please could you run your eye over it for me? It is here: Greenmeadow Poultry. I'm quite pleased with - I want it to be an information resource for Things Chicken as well as a point of contact for people who want to buy birds from me.

B's parents are down for the weekend - they are coming round in half an hour or so and we are going to take them and the children down to Ma's to run the legs of the kids. Then Grandma and Grandpa are going to take them swimming this afternoon. Unfortunately the 'Farm With The Lots Of People' that Leo likes to go to with them had an arson attack in the week and that is therefore off.